Readings in Ecology is a unique collection of diverse readings from the primary literature in ecology. An ideal companion to the groundbreaking text Ecology (OUP, 1998, Dodson et al.), it can also be used in conjunction with other introductory ecology texts. It follows the same chapter organization as Ecology, using eight chapters to focus on the various subdivisions of ecology. Each article is relevant to a fundamental topic covered in the corresponding textbook chapter. Carefully selected by the eight authors of Ecology and Kandis Elliot, a biologist who designed and illustrated Ecology, the readings are representative of a wide range of classic, innovative, and insightful research that has greatly contributed to our grasp and exploration of ecological questions. Selections include Michael Pollan's The Idea of a Garden, Aldo Leopold's Prairie Birthday, Crawford Holling and Gary Meffe's Command and Control and the Pathology of Natural Resource Management, John Pastor and colleagues' Moose, Microbes, and the Boreal Forest, Joel Cohen's Population Growth and Earth's Human Carrying Capacity, and over two dozen more, each introduced by the author who selected it.
Essential reading for every student in the life sciences, Readings in Ecology serves as a useful and exciting supplement for any college-level ecology, biology, environmental science, or other natural history course. It is also a captivating basic reader for every student, teacher, professional, and serious amateur interested in the study of ecology.